The brake booster on a 1996 Chevrolet Z71 uses vacuum pressure created by the engine to give extra pushing power to the brake master cylinder. When the booster starts to fail, the Z71 will lose vacuum pressure, and the braking will become substantially more difficult. To fix the problem, the booster will need to be removed from the vehicle entirely and replaced with a new one. This should take just under an hour to do.
Instructions
- 1
Pop the hood. Locate the brake master cylinder on the driver's side of the firewall with brake lines running out of it. Unbolt it from the brake booster with an open-end wrench. Slide the master cylinder off of the studs and away from the booster, letting it hang by the brake lines.
2Pull the vacuum line off of the brake booster by hand. Climb into the truck's cabin and locate the brake pedal push rod connected to the brake pedal and brake booster. Remove the clip holding it in place with a flat head screwdriver then slide the push rod off of the pedal.
3Unbolt the four bolts around the push rod with a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket and a 3/8-inch universal joint. Go under the hood again and slide the booster off of the firewall and away from the engine bay.
